I'm not sure exactly how recently Google has done this (update: apparently, it's been a few months, thanks Brad), but there is a tab in the mobile search interface called "Android Apps." I'll give you 3 tries to guess what it does.

Clicking on each result pops open the Market app and works exactly as you would expect. The interface does show the star rating to help weed out the crapola, the price, the company name, and the number of reviews. In the future, it would be totally sweet to see an Install button integrated as well, to save us that extra click.

Frankly, I am surprised it took Google, the search giant, over 1.5 years to integrate something this obvious, using already available search APIs, into their core product. I guess 100,000 apps was the magic number.

Artem is a die-hard Android fan, passionate tech blogger, obsessive-compulsive editor, bug hunting programmer, and the founder of Android Police.
Most of the time, you will find Artem either hacking away at code or thinking of the next 15 blog posts.

Whoops, you are right. Never noticed it before. I will post an update to the post.

sappster

What browser are you using?! I like the tabs at the top

http://www.AndroidPolice.com Artem Russakovskii

Dolphin HD.

OFI

Wouldn't it kind of make sense to add this to all Google searches not just the mobile version?
One of the main reasons sites such as AndroLib and AppBrain do so well isn't it?

http://www.AndroidPolice.com Artem Russakovskii

It would, once Google rolls out their Market that will be connected to your phone, where you will be able to install apps straight from the web (like on Appbrain).

As of right now, it would only be confusing to users, because they wouldn't be able to easily send those apps to their phones (unless they're using a Chrome2Phone extension).

Another optimization Google could do in the future is detect whether you're logged into the site via an email address associated with an Android phone and serve app suggestions with more confidence that you're an Android user. All to come, I'm sure.

http://www.theandroidsite.com The Android Site

I never noticed it in the drop down menu, but did notice a month or so ago that if you search for "blah blah android app" some of the results will be links opening straight in the Market app.

http://appsfire.com Ouriel Ohayon

Does not work for me on iPhone 4

pcupitt

Don't bother looking for it in Australia !!

Peter

Every time I see this mentioned I try it out and it doesn't work. Thanks for nothing Google. Any particular reason this is US only?